Back to Basics!

Continuing with the poetry theme, I'm going to keep this very simple. The blog's name is borne out of this poem by Robert Frost. An eternal piece, which might have had some bearing on who I am today. Thanks Bob!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Live Strong. And Stronger!

Ok, poetry today!

Wake up and run
Time for the Sun
Take him at hour one
Stronger body. Stronger bone.

Run like a gazelle
Like a dog after a whistle
Like a kid solving a puzzle
Stronger body. Stronger muscle

Meditate for a second
Breathe deep and profound
With belief and hope ever present
Stronger body. Stronger mind.

BPs to control BP

To keep your BP (Blood Pressure) in check:

Be Passionate

Be Positive

Be Patient

 

Half Boiled Imports

Ok. We Indians, got the motorcycle from the West, like so many other things (in return for our invention of ZERO (0), of course!). But why did we not import the habit of wearing the helmet? When was the last time a Hollywood movie depicted someone riding a two wheeler without helmet?

Also, we got cars. And even 6 laned highways. But not the habit of wearing seat belts, which according to many, are "inconvenient"?

When we imported electricity, we were "habitualized" to not mess with it, right? Did such an education not go into automobile safety?

Why do we need special laws now, to enforce helmet and seat-belt usage? Instead, why did we not make it a habit right from the beginning and avoid having to educate people with expensive laws, after so much damage has been done?

Even now, can we make automobile dealers to not deliver a vehicle without a high quality helmet? If the Government can enforce that a vehicle cannot ply without a number plate, why cannot the same Government enforce that a vehicle cannot be taken delivery without a helmet?

When our habits are at fault, it may not be right to blame the Government, but it can also be seen that these are huge oversights by whoever was in a position of power when the laws were made or not made (when they should have). And this, despite the advantage that India enjoys, of letting the West try things, make mistakes and tune it to perfection, before importing and enjoying them (aka being far behind in technological advancement :-)).

As an extension of this thought, what are some other "products" that one country has imported from another, but not necessarily the associated "habits", leading to a half boiled experience? List them in the comments. Lets discuss!

The filtering post!

Ok today's post is really a tricky one. Not for me, but for those who (claim to) follow me. Are you guys really reading all my posts? Let me find out. Solve the below problem and email me the answer. Simple. Ok?

I'll know who is on and who is not. Ready?

You think you can fool around my blog without really giving it much attention? No boss. You can't. Today we'll figure it out in black and white.

1+1=?

Happiness and Character!

People who are taking their time to understand if marriage is suitable for them, believe that it is about their happiness and the fit. Same is the case with a lot of those couples who are going through an irreparable rough patch.

But is it really about either's happiness alone? IMHO, no, it's not. It's mostly about their character. 

Who I am as a person. Who I am as a spouse!

Any relationship is hard work. You reap what you sow. It's a huge commitment. But it was never really about the selfish desire to have everything you want and be in a constant state of ecstasy. It was about the slow transition from "wanting to have things to enjoy" to "enjoying and wanting what you already have". It's about contentment.

Only from contentment can you be the spouse you were meant to be. It doesn't "take two" to make you who you want to be. It takes just you. Imagine that your spouse became sick for a week. Does it take two? Or do you still love and carry on the same way you would do?

So the fundamental question is, who you want to be? A dependable, loving and caring person or a flight risk at the first sight of turbulence (sounds ironic, isnt it?)? If you have the confidence in you about who you want to be, then it answers for itself whether it is right for you, and if yes, it will be light work, as well!

Generals, Genders and Genes: A Specialist Discussion!

Am I a specialist? Or am I a generalist? This topic came up over a hot cup of tea, when discussing with a group of friends - all with similar backgrounds, but branched into different walks of life.

The concerns were that, someone doing an MBA becomes too general and hence any domain he goes into, he does not have the special knowledge needed to command the authority. I know I'm stretching this a little bit, but you get the gist.
 vs 
On the other hand, someone who has done a specialization, becomes the master of the domain, but then lacks general skills - team management, leadership, vision, business acumen, etc  - and hence might hit a roadblock sooner than later in his career.

Successful people, more often than not, have been a mix of both. Knowing when to specialize and when to generalize is an art in itself and one who masters it, grows up the chain fast. No rocket science there!

Interestingly, looking back at history, I realize that this whole concept of general management at a mass level might be very new to mankind. Please note, I said mankind, NOT womankind.

Men have never worked in a large gathering except in armies and war related activities, where a few Generals do the actual management (is that why they got the name "General"?) and everyone else is a foot soldier. Other men were peacefully minding their own business - farmer, trader, barber, tailor, blacksmith and the like. All specialists. No generals.

Women were running the show at home - managing the men and their egos and their wants and needs - managing the children and their whims - pretty much the general management scenario now. While a few were specialists in things like nursing, dancing or other fine arts, most women throughout history did not specialize in anything other than generally managing the household.

So, come the 21st century, things have taken a huge turn and more and more men are getting into general management, even though genetically (or generationally), they are not used to it. And equally, more women are trying to be specialists. All this should affect the dynamics of the entire system, right?

Seeing how things are turning out for the economy, society, culture and the environment, it might be a good time to look at the gender allocation of general management and specialization in the society. Is this reversing of the gene memory good for us? Is it being done with the awareness and caution needed for such a huge change? Is there data to support/oppose my "random thoughts"? Is it worth discussing? If yes, kindly leave your notes. Or better yet, lets catch up on this over a hot cup of tea. Let me know!